On the edge - charity gig in Slough on 15-Oct for World Mental Health Day

Hi,

I met Gillian Clarke at TWIS last week and agreed to publish details of a gig featuring her son, as it sounded like a really good cause.

True to my word, here are the details....

The website is here www.on-the-edge-events.org

Please have a look and support the cause.

Thanks,

Graham

Press Release:  September 21st 2011

On the Edge has been set-up by a father and son to prove that mental illness in young people can be conquered.

Mind Altering Music for Mind Altering Programmes

Please support this charity gig for World Mental Health Day (10^th October 2011)

Ex New York messiah joins forces with local bands to raise money for mind altering programmes for young people in the “On the Edge” music event on 15^th October in Slough.

You almost certainly know a young person with mental health problems – but you probably won’t know that they have a problem until it reaches an advanced stage. The reason that you won’t know is that they are often terrified of the imagined consequences, of the imagined reactions of other people. Unless you are Stephen Fry, it is definitely not cool to be bi-polar.

So you don’t get help early; so you get worse and take longer to recover.

It doesn’t have to be like this.

If you DON’T FREAK OUT at the thought of having a mental health problem BECAUSE:- you know it’s common and that it’s not your fault (you are one of the 1 in 4) and you know your friends, family and society will support you and that you will almost certainly recover fully, then - WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Why not change your mind?

On the Edge supports programmes to promote awareness and to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health issues, to show it for what it is – a common (and typically temporary) illness. Success means that young people get help early, recover quickly and get on with their lives rather than suffering prolonged chaos and emotional trauma with family and friends.

Ex messiah, Ross Wilson (25), the lead singer of the rock band WILSON, has recovered from a serious psychotic episode to become a successful musician. At 21, however, he was destitute in New York, believing he was Jesus and living with a hobo under a bridge. See www.huggingbarbedwire.com for the full story. He has teamed up with high flying singer – songwriter, Tiger Lilly, who has suffered from mental health problems herself, to produce the “On the Edge” charity music event.

Tiger Lilly, winner of 'Best Out of Area Act' Exposure Music Awards East 2010 is an indie/pop/rock artist who has struggled with bi-polar difficulties of her own. She says “Music was and still is my therapy”.

The event brings together musicians and bands in an exciting and inspirational fusion of words and rock music that will rearrange your head. From Tiger Lilly’s new single “Letting Go” to the dark and brooding anthem “Taken” by WILSON and the compelling acoustic “Hugging Barbed Wire”, this is music with meaning. Whilst the songs are addictive, circulating through your mind for days after just a single exposure, there’s also an edge to lyrics that have been torn from their lives.

Ross and his father have recently appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live during an interview with Gail Porter, they put on a successful show at the Brighton Fringe and Ross has been approached to tell the story of his journey through psychosis and his music as the basis for a documentary planned for Channel 4.

‘Tiger Lilly not just a singer, but a feisty, charismatic talented performer that you are unable to take your eyes off, I’d book her time and time again!’ Craig Nightingale – Promotions Executive

www.on-the-edge-events.org  @ The West Wing Arts Centre, Stoke Road, Slough, SL2 5AY

October 15^th 2011: 7:30pm to 11pm Tickets are £8 online - on sale now from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/132710   or £10 on the door.

Sample the artists’ music at their websites: www.wilsonmusic.co.uk    www.tigerlillymusic.co.uk

Stop Press: The Quotes now playing at On the Edge!

Internationally breaking Reading band, The Quotes , have offered to play at the event. See www.thequotesmusic.com for their new single, “Gypsy Man”.

Background Information

Ex Messiah, Ross Wilson

After the devastating fall-out from a 2 year-long psychotic episode that started when he was 20 and which was followed by a year of suicidal depression, Ross Wilson has turned his life around and now wants to help others do the same. Pulled out of his depression by the urge to re-build a band with his younger brother Owen, he has joined with artist Tiger Lilly to put on a show to support World Mental Health Day. The artists want to use the gig to promote awareness and tackle the stigma surrounding mental health issues such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and depression.

Ross and his father, Peter Wilson, are committed to trying to ensure that the lack of early diagnosis and treatment that led to his prolonged psychotic episode doesn’t happen to others. They have taken their anti-stigma message into schools and conferences and helped create a very successful show at the Brighton Fringe (- extraordinary and utterly brilliant..). More information about his story of illness and recovery and the impact on the family is at: www.huggingbarbedwire.com

Tiger Lilly

Winner of 'Best Out of Area Act' Exposure Music Awards East 2010 is an indie/pop/rock artist hailing from the suburbs of London with a unique voice and distinctive sound. Having struggled with bi-polar difficulties of her own, she says “Music was and still is my therapy”.

Refreshing and bold, Tiger Lilly is a Pop/Rock artist from the UK who has been captivating audiences across the country with her soul-baring lyrics and crisp, unique sound. With her singles a consistent mainstay in the UK's Top 40 Unsigned chart on tourdates.co.uk and her tracks airing on radio stations in countries around the world, Tiger Lilly is now poised to take her career and her music to the next level.

2010 kicked off with a three month acoustic UK tour promoting the release of her debut album ”Reflections”, impressing audiences across the country with her highly acclaimed live performances. Tiger Lilly’s emotional ballads of rejections and woes weep from her guitar, while her powerful voice reveals her soul. The album was commemorated with a launch party at the legendary 100 Club in London on March 31st and her new single "Affair" steadily climbed the Unsigned charts, reaching No. 1.

For more information or to discuss any of the above in more detail, contact

Peter Wilson:  peter@pgwilson.co.uk     07785265660

Ross Wilson:       rw@rosswilsonmusic.co.uk         07739880932

Danielle Moubarak (Tiger Lilly):  dani@tigerlillymusic.co.uk           07807214456